Television

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Texas executes unrepentant killer

The 22nd Execution of 2013

Douglas Feldman, a former financial analyst with a history of disruptive behavior, received a lethal injection on July 31, 2013 in Texas for gunning down Robert
Everett of Missouri and Nicholas Valesquez of Texas, reported The Associated Press.

Feldman mimicked the announcement a judge or jury makes when announcing a
verdict, using the names of his victims and declaring he had found them
guilty of crimes against him.

"I have sentenced them both to death. I personally carried out their
executions," he said in a loud voice, adding that he carried out their
executions in August 1998.

As of that time, the state of Texas has been holding me illegally in
confinement and by force for 15 years," Feldman said. "I hereby protest my
pending execution and demand immediate relief."

He appeared very nervous, breathing quickly and his feet twitching under a
sheet. As the drug began taking effect, he grimaced twice, took a few deep
breaths and began snoring. Then all movement stopped.

Feldman was pronounced dead 13 minutes after the lethal drug was injected at
6:28 p.m. local time.

Feldman's attorney, Robin Norris, filed a clemency petition with the Texas
Board of Pardons and Paroles that was turned down Monday. Multiple courts,
including the U.S. Supreme Court, earlier rejected appeals on Feldman's
behalf.

Feldman, from Richardson, was riding his motorcycle the night of Aug. 24,
1998, and said Everett, driving an 18-wheeler, cut him off on a Dallas County
freeway so he took out his 9 mm pistol, pulled up alongside the truck cab and
shot him. Feldman testified at his capital murder trial that he was still angry
about 45 minutes later when he spotted Valesquez, a gasoline tanker driver
filling a Dallas service station, and shot him.

"A security camera catches him shooting the man in cold blood," Jason
January, the former Dallas County assistant district attorney who prosecuted
him, said. "Several counties were frightened as this unidentified motorcyclist
was out acting like 'The Terminator.'"

Feldman was arrested more than a week later, after shooting and wounding a
man at a fast-food restaurant and driving off. A bystander saw the shooting and
reported his license plate number to police, who tracked him down and found
Feldman with two pistols and nearly 300 rounds of ammunition. Ballistics tests
confirmed one of the guns was used in all three shootings.

"It feels wonderful to cause their death and to watch their pain," he said in
one of 81 letters he wrote to a former girlfriend while awaiting his trial. The
writings from the magna cum laude Southern Methodist University graduate were
introduced into evidence.

"God forbid I ever had my finger on the button to launch a nuclear explosive
device because I guarantee that I would wipe as many of these bastards off the
face of the planet as I am able!" he said in another letter.

Without remorse, he also acknowledged the killings while testifying at his
capital murder trial.

Feldman became the 11th prisoner executed this year in Texas and third
this month. At least seven other inmates are scheduled to die in the coming
months in the nation's busiest capital punishment state.

About Matt

An analysis of crime and punishment from the perspective of a former prosecutor and current criminal justice practitioner.
The views expressed on this blog are solely those of the author and do not reflect the opinions or postions of any county, state or federal agency.